Page 31 of A Game of Secrets

I shake my head and say "What I did for you I would have done for all you girls, I don't need your thanks or services, now go and get your things Cherry you can have the rest of the night off."

She replies "Oh OK, well if you change your mind you know where I am. Thank you again." she leaves and all I can think of is Lucille and how I wish she would give me an offer like Cherry just did, my dick is instantly hard at the thought of la mia Luce begging for my cock. I collect my things and head out to ready myself for the events ahead.

Arriving home, I head straight to my ensuite bathroom. My hungry desire for Lucille is becoming increasingly distracting, I can't get her out of my head. Turning the shower on extra hot, making the steam engulf the room, I shed my clothes and step in. Feeling the warm soothing water rain down on my back, I close my eyes, remembering the way Lucille's delicate hands touched mine. The way her breath caught at the sight of me and how the blush filled her cheeks as she gathered herself. Her luscious and hypnotic voice is cemented into my mind as are her full pouting lips. Before I can help myself my hand is on my hard length as I imagine her plump lips wrapped around my hard cock, she would take me fully into her mouth, I can almost feel how good her tongue would feel licking the tip of my erection. I pump my hand up and down, thinking of thrusting my cock down her silk like throat, her face blushing beautifully, cheeks tear stained as I fuck her pretty little mouth. Envisaging her on her knees taking me like a good girl, has me erupting over the bathroom tiles quicker than I have since I was a teenage boy. Taking a deep breath, I turn the shower to cold in a hope that will temper my desire for la mia luce. Stepping out, I can still feel this craving for her. I dress quickly, trying to put this to the back of my mind once again, I must focus on the events that will allow me to claim her.

Pulling up outside the warehouse I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I need this, I tell myself. I grab my shit and head inside to let my demons out to play. Entering the warehouse I head straight to the dressing room and start to prepare myself. This is it, this is how I will win my prize and how those Irish bastards will crumble at my feet, I will show everyone that I own this city.

Zoning out, I close my eyes focusing on my senses. The smell of bleach floods my nose, I can hear the crowd roaring and the music booming, the announcers are introducing Max Costello to the ring. I stand to face myself in the mirror, I look at my dark hair that is cut short, the tattoos that travel from my chest to my neck and down my arms. My eyes are honey brown and my facial hair is close shaven. I'm ready to take down my opponent but is la mia Luce ready for that I wonder. Only time will tell.

A knock at the door startles me from my thoughts. "They are about to announce you, Fratello," Linc tells me. I wonder where Cole has gotten to. As if reading my mind Linc says, "Cole is with the girl, he said he'll bring her to you if you win against the Irish scum, so you best win or he'll keep her to himself," he grins at me, he always likes a bet, it's no wonder he owns a successful casino.

The incentive to win Lucille has me eager to fight and claim my prize. I turn to the door that leads to the ring and pull the hood up of my black and emerald green robe. Green for her eyes that see straight through me and into my soul.

I make my way out of the changing room, as I enter the arena the announcer bellows down the microphone, "And challenging Max Costello is our very own benefactor, The Merciless Salvatore." The soundtrack I picked thunders through the speakers, ‘No Easy Way Out,’ by Robert Tepper.

The crowd is going wild, shouting and screaming. I try to block it all out and focus on my opponent, he's stood in his corner glaring at me as I make my way towards the ring. As I step into the ring, I pass my robe to Linc. I raise my hands to the air and look to the crowd, I find green piercing eyes looking at me with disbelief, mi Luce. Cole is looking smug standing next to her. I wink at her, then return to face my opponent.

"Costello, are you ready to see stars tonight? She’s a pretty little thing at the bar next to my brother isn’t she. Do you think we should make a bet? I win and I win her. You win and my brother wins her? What do you say?" I'm baiting him, I can see the veins in his head popping with anger. What he doesn't know is win or lose she's mine but I still don't intend to lose.

Max snarls at me, "You won't be touching a hair on her head, you Italian piece of shit." I laugh, not taking my eyes away from his, I step towards him as he does to me, we are nose to nose now and I can smell the blood already.

The referee steps in to separate us, "Back into your corners men," he grunts to us both. I smirk and obey as does Max. "We go for a maximum of twelve rounds, three minutes each. The one with the advantage wins the round or whoever gives the knockout blow wins the match, anything apart from weapons in this match is acceptable, are we agreed?" The ref says through the microphone but is directing the question at me and Costello. I nod, so does Max. "Are we ready?" The ref shouts to the crowd as they all cheer. "Gentlemen on the sound of the bell the fight commences," the referee explains as he steps aside and gives the nod, the bell is rang.

I hold my stance, left foot slightly forward, left arm slightly extended with my right arm held closer to my body near my chin. I'm bouncing from foot to foot, readying myself to dodge and duck Costello's jabs. My opponent comes in towards me, I throw a right hook to his face, making him stumble back and spit blood to the floor, his lip is bloody, the sight is glorious. He recovers quickly, dancing around me and making a swift jab to my left rib. Holding my stance, I counter with a jab of my own to his stomach. He gasps as he brings his head forward as he attempts to head butt me, I dodge him. He moves quickly getting another jab to my ribs. I rapidly move to grab him around the neck, I tightened my hold on him in an attempt to cut off his air supply but the bastard winds me by elbowing me and flipping me off him. Whilst I'm down, I swing my leg and bring him to the floor. I grab him and punch him, splitting his eyebrow open, his blood splatters over me. The bell rings, three minutes is up. One round to me, another eleven to go unless I can knock the fucker out before then.

I'm sitting back in my corner, Linc is checking me over. My blood hasn't been spilt yet but I'm sure I have bruised ribs. "Listen, you need to make this a quick defeat fratello," Linc encourages. I look over to Costello, he is getting his eyebrow and lip seen to by one of his men, he grins at me with a bloody red smile. With that the second bell is rung, both of us are on our feet ready for the next round. Taking my stance again, I ready myself as Max charges at me, landing a forceful jab to my stomach. I stumble on my feet slightly but hold myself up, I counter his jab with a right hook to the side of his head making him fall to the ground. The ref dashes over and starts to count, but Costello shakes himself off. On his feet again he charges forward towards me, this time he knocks me back into the ropes, landing a blow to my face causing my nose to spray blood everywhere. As I try to regain my balance the bell rings, end of round two and we are on a draw.

Collapsing back into his corner Max looks tired. I grin and shout, "Tired already Costello?'' He spits towards me. "That's not friendly," I laugh. He doesn't reply. I know I'm getting to him both mentally and physically.

As I take my seat in my corner of the ring Linc jumps in to clean the blood from my face, "Keep getting hit like that and the girl won't come near you even if you do win," he says matter of factly.

I glare at him and it's all I can do not to punch him too, "She'll enjoy every minute of the blood and sweat from my victory."

Two minutes later, the bell rings for the third time. I decide to go on the offensive and charge towards Costello, I surprise him by landing an uppercut to his face and jab to his ribs. He gasps and holds a defense stance. I take another swing towards him, and with my final hit I send the Irish bastard flying to the ground. He is out cold. The referee starts to count, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and TEN.

The audience goes crazy, screaming. "And the winner is, The Merciless Salvatore!" The referee bellows down the microphone.

I grin while my brother and Linc jump into the ring to embrace me, cheering me on. I look over to Max Costello, he is staggering to his feet. I go to put my hand out as a friendly gesture. He takes it but at that moment mi Luce climbs into the ring and screams. "What have you done to him, you monster!" I drop his hand, I'm taken back by the emotion in her face and voice. She rushes to check over Costello's injuries, she's assessing him and he grins at me, looking at me like he’s won the real fight.

I step forward to wipe it off his face when Cole steps in front of me and says in a low voice, "Don't rise to his bait brother, it won't make her choose you over him, it will just push her away."

He’s right but fuck has it pissed me off. I turn and storm out of the ring back to the changing room with more anger than I had before. She was comforting him and she thinks of me as the monster, I didn't want her to see me that way. I look at myself in the mirror, the reflection staring back at me makes me angry, the monster she sees is looking back at me. My rage gets the best of me, I let out a roar and punch the mirror shattering the glass into a million pieces. Blood now coats my knuckles and drips onto the floor. But it’s all I can do to focus on the sting to distract me from how distraught she looked.

Cole appears behind me and huff's out a breath, "Fratello, Linc has gone to persuade Topolino to come and see you. Sort your temper out otherwise I won't let you near her. Do you understand?"

I stare at him and nod. "I would never hurt her, Cole." I tell him calmly.

"You may not mean it Silas, but I won't take the risk with her if you can't promise me. She's special, so don’t fuck it up for us. Be kind to her when she’s here." Cole says it's like he's warning me. I don't like that but I respect him for it.

"I promise she'll never be safer than when she is with me" I say truthfully. Cole nods and leaves the room in search of whiskey to celebrate. The truth is I'd protect her and her son from anyone that means harm to them. I just need to prove it to her.

It's time for me to show this woman who I really am.

Chapter 18

Lucille

The fight only lasts 3 rounds before Max is knocked to the floor. Every prolonged second of the referee’s count seemed to stab me straight through the chest. It’s hard to watch as he lies limp on the floor, blood oozing from his lip and the split over his eyebrow while his opponent watches on, triumph beaming bright from his face. My anger rages louder than the crowd when the referee finally roars, “And the winner is, The Merciless Salvatore!” into the microphone and I catch Tomcat and a guy who looks vaguely familiar, hop through the ropes and bound themselves excitedly straight into his outstretched arms, celebrating his win. Their shouts of victory ignite a fire in me I never knew was possible.

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